title: Molecular analysis of neurogenic placode development in a basal ray-finned fish.
abstract: Neurogenic placodes are transient, thickened patches of embryonic vertebrate head ectoderm that give rise to the paired peripheral sense organs and most neurons in cranial sensory ganglia. We present the first analysis of gene expression during neurogenic placode development in a basal actinopterygian (ray-finned fish), the North American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). Pax3 expression in the profundal placode confirms its homology with the ophthalmic trigeminal placode of amniotes. We report the conservation of expression of Pax2 and Pax8 in the otic and/or epibranchial placodes, Phox2b in epibranchial placode-derived neurons, Sox3 during epibranchial and lateral line placode development, and NeuroD in developing cranial sensory ganglia. We identify Sox3 as a novel marker for developing fields of electrosensory ampullary organs and for ampullary organs themselves. Sox3 is also the first molecular marker for actinopterygian ampullary organs. This is consistent with, though does not prove, a lateral line placode origin for actinopterygian ampullary organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Melinda S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Modrell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Clare V H
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000196:embryology*; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000196:embryology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C109220:NBPhox protein; C093564:Neurogenic differentiation factor 1